Actuary Best Job, Reporters The Worst

Being an actuary is the best job in America, according to Career Cast, due to its "high pay, low stress, a robust hiring outlook, a healthy work environment and minimal physical exertion."

No region in the country has more actuaries per capita than metro Hartford, where 660 actuaries work, and make $99,170 on average.

The declaration that newspaper reporter is the worst job drew lots of criticism from the peanut gallery Monday afternoon, as the Jobs Rated Report rolled out.

Economist Justin Wolfers tweeted: "Simple observation: If newspaper reporter really were the worst occupation in America, it would be easy to find a job."

In other words, thousands of reporters and would-be reporters have not gotten the memo.

Wall Street Journal reporter Nick Timiraos tweeted: "How is 'newspaper reporter' atop that 'worst job' list? Any job where you shower before you go to work isn't a 'worst job.' Sorry."

Is being a reporter really worse than working in a meatpacking plant? Sucking out porta potties or septic tanks? Washing dishes? Roofing? Working the graveyard shift in a nursing home? Working the night shift in a bodega or 7/11 in a high crime neighborhood?

A public relations professional tweeted: "I used to be a reporter. It was awesome. The industry's struggles are being conflated with the job itself."

It's true that newspapers have been buffeted by the near-demise of classified advertising revenue, an aging and shrinking readership, and long-term decline in display advertising. Shrinking revenue has led to shrinking staffs, and nationwide, the number of newspaper reporters is down 30 percent from 13 years ago. Those same economic forces have put downward pressure on salaries in the business.

"People who love to write can consider working for online publications or make the transition to a job in advertising or public relations," said Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com. "There are many jobs in communications that offer better hours, greater stability, a work/life balance and a healthier hiring outlook than being a newspaper reporter."

There are lots of online publications that do the same kind of work that newspapers do — Connecticut Mirror, New Haven Independent and Pulitzer-prize winning ProPublica — but many of those cooperate with newspapers, radio stations or TV programs to get their work to a larger audience, and all have smaller newsrooms than most newspapers.

As for public relations — well, let's just say Mr. Lee (no relation) doesn't have much insight into what gives us personal fulfillment, what he says is everyone's ultimate career goal.